Despite Affliction loss, humbled Gilbert Yvel happy to be back in U.S.

http://mmajunkie.comMore than an hour after his third-round submission loss to Josh Barnett, Gilbert Yvel took his seat at the “Affliction: Day of Reckoning” post-event press conference.

Despite a swollen face, busted lip and trickles of blood coming from his mouth, the heavyweight fighter was neither dejected nor remorseful.

In fact, for a fighter heavily criticized for his past in-fight antics, the slight smile coming from Yvel’s busted mug almost gave a sense of relief.

Affliction Entertainment received its fair share of criticism when it offered a slot on its Jan. 24 fight card to Yvel, a former PRIDE veteran with a checkered past. The list of offenses includes two disqualifications due to unsportsmanlike conduct as well as a 2004 assault on a referee. The Nevada State Athletic Commission refused to license Yvel for a proposed 2007 bout under the PRIDE banner based on the conduct.

While Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio was confident Yvel would be credentialed for the event, he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) he had another heavyweight on standby just in case.

“What can I say?” said Yvel (35-13-1), who took a steady stream of punishment before finally tapping out in the third round. “I hope that this punishment is enough for all of my bad things that I did in my past.”

Yvel surely won over some fans with his effort. Although he never put his opponent in any real danger, Yvel’s resiliency created problems for Barnett, who couldn’t finish the fight in the first two rounds despite dominant ground positions.

“I tried to do my best,” Yvel said. “I was ready to stand up with Josh, but he didn’t want to do it, so I fought with him on the ground. I tried my very best. I tried with all my heart. Those elbows were hard. He punched me real hard.”

The performance is likely to earn Yvel another shot with Affliction, though the organization has yet to make an official announcement of when it might take place. However, more than one source at the event said Affliction is considering a show on the East Coast, possibly at one of Affliction executive Donald Trump’s Atlantic City properties, for its next show this summer.

Regardless, Yvel was just happy to get a second chance on American soil.

“I want to thank one more time the California (State) Athletic Commission and M-1 and Affliction for giving me the chance to get my ass beat here,” he joked.

A total of 26 fighters got their chance to shine on Saturday as part of UFC 190 at Rio de Janeiro’s HSBC Arena. Now that UFC 190 is in the books, it’s time to commence MMAjunkie’s “Three Stars” ceremony.

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